The Open Road Carnival
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Exciting Funding News!
New Carnival Awarded National Lottery Funding to Support East Wight Summer Carnivals & Beyond
New Carnival Awarded National Lottery Funding to Support East Wight Summer Carnivals & Beyond
Following on from the success of this year’s IW Mardi Gras, New Carnival CIC is thrilled to announce it has been awarded £19,514 from The National Lottery Community Fund for an exciting new project: Carnival Island Connections.
Thanks to this funding, New Carnival will be bringing its vibrant, inclusive brand of carnival magic to communities across the East Wight this summer, and beyond.
The project will deliver free community costume-making workshops in seven towns: Ryde, Newport, East Cowes, St Helens, Shanklin, Sandown, and Ventnor. Residents will be invited to create colourful costumes and props to showcase in their local carnival parades. It kicks off with workshops in Shanklin on 29th July, followed by Newport on 30th and 31st July, St Helens on the 19th August, East Cowes on the 20th August, Ryde on the 21st August and Sandown on the 26th August. To find out more, and for more information about all the other workshops please see the attached flyer and check out New Carnival’s social media.
But that’s not all; the funding will also cover the hire of a truck to transport a selection of New Carnival’s spectacular large-scale puppets and costumes to each event, lighting up the island’s summer carnivals and children’s parades.
This year’s project also includes support for the Isle of Wight Steam Punk Festival, as well as winter events such as Bonfire Night celebrations, and Christmas parades in Newport and Ventnor.
New Carnival already delivers flagship cultural events including the Isle of Wight Mardi Gras engaging 25 local schools and community groups annually; and Merry and Bright Festival of Light in December, supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation. It also runs the successful youth project Isle of Creativity, now in its third year.
“This grant means everything,” said Gemma Mallinson, Director of Engagement and Development at New Carnival. “It allows us to bring more people together, reach more communities, and share the joy of carnival creativity in new and meaningful ways. It’s about making the arts accessible, joyful, and community-led. Widening our support for the Island’s rich carnival heritage and traditions, which date back to Queen Victoria, has been on our to do list for many years – and now we can!”
Local carnival organisers have welcomed the project with open arms. Jo Morrison, Chair of Ryde Carnival, said:
“It is essential that we work together to keep our Isle of Wight heritage of carnival alive for future generations. Working with professional organisations like New Carnival Company is vital for offering inclusive and affordable workshops. If New Carnival can hold workshops for all age groups in our town, Ryde Carnival will become a more diverse and inclusive parade.”
Teresa Preston, Chair of Ventnor Carnival Association and Federation Treasurer, added:
“We would very much like New Carnival to be able to offer costume workshops and bring over some of their wonderful large costumes. We’ve been impressed by their creativity and all-inclusive approach — what a lovely addition it will be to have those large, fantastic costumes in our carnival.”
The Carnival Island Connections project will not only brighten the streets of the East Wight with colour and spectacle — it will also help to combat social isolation, boost wellbeing, and empower local volunteers and creatives, particularly young people looking to build skills in the arts.